About three weeks ago, our family’s Saturday afternoon took an unexpected turn when we discovered a small cardboard box sitting on the step in front of our house. It had a handwritten sign on it that said, “Se regalan perritos.” The Spanish had us Canadians guessing, so we opened the box, and here’s what we saw:

Three little sisters: calm, quiet, alone, but hoping…

We were uncertain what to do, but definitely knew we had to do something. So we brought them in the house to check them out and get them some food. Our own two dogs, littermate male and female, almost ten years old, were also checking them out (that’s their noses on the left, sniffing at the box). “Se regalan perritos.” “Puppies are given.” Si, y… muchas graçias?

We suppose some family figured their unexpected brood stood a better chance with our family. Figured we would take them in, feed them (we guessed they were just weened, baby teeth in, so at least puppy food was an option). Figured we would get rid of their fleas, maybe even their worms, and maybe even get them vaccinated. And spayed. Figured we would just adopt them (we had two dogs, why not three more?). And if we couldn’t keep them, we’d certainly find people who could, and would, and these little lost ‘giveaway puppies’ would live happily ever after.

Guess what? They figured right.

So, it’s now more than three weeks later, the ‘girls’ are still with us, and we are having a fun time, watching them thrive, grow, and get a good start to life. Safe and sheltered? Yes. Fed? Plenty. Fleas, worms, and other critters? Going, going, gone. Shots? First round done. Spayed? When the next JBAR clinic happens at the end of this month in Lo de Marcos, we’d like these girls to be first in line. We are doing the right thing to make sure these little puppies don’t end up mothering more little puppies. Having them in our lives for this fun but finite time has certainly been a gift, but more regalan perritos? No, graçias.

After that, or sooner? Well, just like the family before us, we too are looking to give away these puppies, and hope that you or someone you know may be willing and able to make (at least) one of them a part of your family.

They are happy, cute, sweet, alert, playful, healthy dogs. Breed? Uhhhm, Mexican? Short black and tan hair on the ‘twins,’ and slightly fluffier brown on the third. The vet guesses them to be about 2 months old. We don’t expect they’ll get very big. Feeding is frequent, but easy: dry puppy food right from the bag, crunch crunch crunch. We wouldn’t call them housetrained yet, but, if they’re put outside, right after naps, and soon after snacks, they ‘go,’ like a synchronized team, pretty much on command. Popó y pipí from three puppies has turned our back patio into a bit of an obstacle course, but at least it’s afuera (and yes, they are learning that word, and more, in both English and en español).

Just to keep track of their eating (and all that follows), we’ve named them: Niña, Pinta, y Santa Maria. We live at the top of the hill above La Peñita, figured they probably came our way via calle Cristóbal Colón, so we thought the names were well-suited. But temporary! They could just have easily have been Perrito Uno, Perrito Dos, y Perrito Tres. And they could still be whatever name(s) you want…

Last weekend, with the help of our six-year-old son and his two ‘puppy handler’ friends, we took some photos. They’re not glamour portraits (hard to get a wriggling puppy to pose!), but you get the picture.

From left to right: Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria.

Niña (‘little girl’): she’s the smallest, very affectionate (she likes to ‘muzzle nuzzle’), and she’s usually first wanting a nap, but when she’s rested, she’s as frolicking and feisty as her sisters.

Pinta (‘the painted one’): a little bigger than the other two, with a different coat, and a black muzzle that suits her clown-like personality; full of confidence, she’s the first one that’s really tried to make friends with our dogs.

Santa Maria (‘TaMaria’ for short, which means ‘palm tree’ in Hebrew, and ‘Tammy’ for shorter…): she seems happy to be both a follower and a leader in this trio, depending on where the action is, or who needs a buddy most. Like her namesake ship, she’s an even-keeled explorer.

Speaking again of the ships (and if Wikipedia can be trusted), all three vessels in Columbus’s famous fleet were ‘second-hand (if not third or more) and were never meant for exploration.’ We will likely never know the ‘first-hand’ origins of these puppies, but for sure, new or not, they are lovely, and worthy of love.

If you would like to meet our fleet, puppy-to-person, please email us at tracy@dancormier.ca. And if we haven’t had any takers before the beginning of April, you will find us at the JBAR clinic in La Peñita, ‘fixed’ and ready for adoption.

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